Citizen Warrior

"Citizen Warrior" is a history and memoir by developer and civic activist Eugene W. Merritt, Jr. and John H. Meyer, chronicling the author's efforts to transform the sleepy North Carolina town of Wilmington into a modern city and destination for commerce and quality living. Since the 1980s, Merritt has been at the center of some of the most important developments in the city's history, including the revitalization of downtown, bringing Interstate 40 to link Wilmington with the rest of the world, and develop the Wilmington riverfront into a must see destination for residents and tourists alike. Merritt recounts his efforts to transform the city he grew up in, and recalls those who helped and hindered his efforts along the way. The largest city in eastern North Carolina, Wilmington is renowned for its beautiful downtown that prompts comparisons to Charleston and Savannah, and Eugene Merritt has played a major role in earning that reputation.